Pope Francis on Tuesday radically revised the process by which Catholics may annul their marriages, streamlining steps that many in the church considered too cumbersome and costly.
The move is the latest in a series of reforms by Francis as he seeks to make the church more responsive to the real needs of lay Catholics, especially those who have long felt marginalized by the hierarchy. Without the annulments, Catholics who remarry are not allowed to receive Holy Communion, which many describe as a painful exclusion from the church’s chief sacrament.
The Vatican announcement also comes just weeks before Francis makes his first-ever visit to the United States. Americans accounted for about half of the nearly 50,000 annulments granted in 2012, the latest year for which statistics are available.
Typo. The malee that is going on
I am a proud and happy Christian Catholic, are you?
Thank God you didn’t say ‘Roman’ Catholic. Without the ‘Roman’ bit, you are just a Christian – which is good, because I can assure you Sir that the Roman Catholic Church is NOT a Godly institution.
What nonsense! The best reform he can do is to let the priest find a wife, so they won’t have all the males that is going on.
Our Lord would tell you about your comment: “Get behind Me Satan.”
Some of you will die being ignorant of what Our Lord Jesus Christ taught and of the faith. When are you going to learn and comprehend? Where will your soul end up in eternity?
Learn this about the priesthood, The Word of the Lord!
Matthew 19:11-12 – Marriage and Divorce – Not all can accept (this) word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; “some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.” Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.
Matthew 19:29 – The Rich Young Man – Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of My Name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.
There are good, holy priests who are faithful to God, to their vows, to the priesthood and to the Church.
Why can’t people ignore these self appointed spokes-men and patterned their lives after the word of God,,,THE BIBLE.
I know the saying Peter was the first pope,but Peter himself never claimed to be a pope.All he said about himself was this.
I AM AN APOSTLE…1 PETER 1:1and I AM AN ELDER 1 PETER 5:1
Do you know Peter was a married man.? I am going 2 prove to u he was, Matthew 8:14 and 1 Corinthians 9:5. If u read from the first verse in chapter 9,some of the believers in Corinth were questioning his apostleship so he said to them.The same right (Cephas which is Peter or Simon the same person) have to bring along his WIFE with him when he is going to preach the word of God He and Barnabas have the same right.
Now, if you disagree with my comments ,Please correct me with the WORD OF GOD.Do not write and say I jealous the Roman Church and leave judgement 4 God.
Remember Jesus is still in the SAVING business.Will you come to Him Now.?
J. John-Charles:
Thank you for reminding us that it is the Word of God we should listen to not the changing and conflicting opinions of religious leaders.
If people want to find a path through life that leads to Heaven at the end there is only one place to look and that is in the Bible specifically in the New Testament.
Do Catholics ever think about how often a pope has said something contrary to what a previous pope has said? They have sometimes contradicted each other even saying exactly the opposite. Once the church ended up having two popes at the same time. Each excommunicate the other. One pope ruled that Joan of Arc was a witch and had her burned at the stake. A later pope made her a saint.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
The gates of hell are once again wide opened. The devils and enemies are out in full force.
You left the Catholic Church to join a self-appointed so-called pastor. Who are you to make such statements, you hypocrite ?
Do you think that you are not being a hypocrite?
I have told you when you die, Our Lord Jesus Christ will reveal the truth to you. I feel yu have much to regret.
Use the Holy Bible to have respect for the faith and devotions of the Catholic Church. You will be doing yourself a great mortal and spiritual favor.
Do you think you can go to Heaven, a place of joy, love, unity and peace with religious indifference and bashing the Catholic Church? Think again!
Many of you have been deceived and misled.
You are not well-read or that when you read you soon forget what you read. Put on your thinking cap and your brains. You have told lies against the Holy Father, Pope Francis. God will punish you for that. Wait and see.
If there are people working for the globalists, population reduction are those as the UN, Planned Parenthood (you have heard about the latter in recent months from CNN and other Media).
If there is anyone who is working for the disintegration of the family are those as also the UN who initiate, legislate, approve, applaud and encourage so-called same sex marriage and those who practice homosexuality and lesbianism. They are forcing other countries as also the African ones to do likewise.
The Pope, as Head/Leader of the Catholic Church is not involved in either you mentioned. He is working for mercy, forgiveness and peace . This is what Our Lord Jesus Christ wants of him as His Vicar and of us as the laity.
Pray to God for enlightenment.
DNO, don’t you think that Dominicans who blindly follow the Roman Catholic Church thinking that it is a force for good, deserve to know what it really is? A force for the devil himself??? I am not making this up as you well know. The video links posted show without a doubt that the Catholic Church worships Lucifer.
Do the right thing.
Blessings in the name of Christ our saviour.
(This little story is an hypothetical example only and not an actual case history.)
Many who have looked closely at this annulment practice in the Catholic Church even before Francis came along are convinced it is farce – a cash cow – something they do to bring in money.
Now it is one of the pope’s reforms to open wider the church doors to bring in those who have left and others to compensate for its loses in recent years.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
You are oh so wrong. It is a downright lie! I do not expect anything better from those who are not of the Catholic faith and who bash the Catholic Church which they seem to excel in doing.
Let me inform you. Lawyers charge an exorbitant mount of money. Do they argue with the lawyers that their fee is high? No! They eagerly and willingly pay the exorbitant sum to procure a divorce.
Those with common sense will know that administrative cost is involved. The paper work, days, material, mailing; traveling. Remember there were no computer and internet then. Who would bear the costs?
The Church owes none of them an annulment. They wanted an annulment so that they could be free and also re-marry and be in good standing with the Church. They asked for the annulment, they should pay the price.
I am certain in bygone years no one complained about it. Today, people are complaining about everything. God will take care of them and the Church’s critics as you.
Continuation…
(The above is a hypothetical example only and not an actual case history.)
Many who have looked closely at this annulment practice in the Roman Catholic Church even before Francis came along are convinced it is a farce – a cash cow – something they do to bring in money.
Now it is one of the pope’s reforms to open the church doors wider to bring in those who have left and others to compensate for its loses in recent years.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
There is a disdain against the Catholic Church by you people who are not of this faith and those who left it, The One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Faith/Church which Our Lord Jesus Christ established on earth. It has many enemies as you.
They could look as closely at the Catholic Church but they will not know everything about the Catholic Church. God will hide “His truths” from them and veil their eyes .
You sound as a bitter man, against the Catholic Church. As God hears you and knows what you write, you will pay for it.
One day the truth will be revealed to you. He will deal with the enemies of the Catholic Church as they deserve.
They voluntarily apply for an annulment. The Church does not approach them to get one. Those who apply for an annulment must have at least two witnesses. I was once a witness when a close friend applied for an annulment.
:twisted:…
I received a letter and was informed that this person applied for an annulment and gave my name as a witness; the person had also informed me. At that time we discussed nothing of what I would say.
At the interview, I had to swear on the Holy Bible, to speak the truth. To make this short, I was informed that the discussion will be taped. I was asked a few questions about that relationship, before and during and I replied honestly, what I knew about them and what transpired to my knowledge..
This information obviously went before a tribunal to evaluate. The end result was the friend got the annulment.
Therefore, what you know about the Catholic Church providing annulments is totally wrong. You know nothing!!!.
For a price the bishop will study their marriage and find a reason why the marriage is not valid meaning they were not really married. If they can pay the price the church will give them an annulment. They can divorce and each marry somebody else.
They had been married 20 years and raised four kids together. Did it take them all this time to discover the marriage was “flawed” and they were not really married?
But before they were married they had taken pre marriage counseling from the priest. They were married by the priest in the church. They gone to confession and mass. In all this time what would it have taken for the priest to detect a “flaw” that would mean they were not truly married in the sight of God?
If they loved each other and were in a committed relationship and they discovered the marriage was not valid don’t you think they would get married as quickly as possible instead looking for a way out?
Continued…
I don’t think it occurred to either one of them that the marriage was not a genuine and valid marriage until something else surfaced like neglect, abuse, or an affair. Then an annulment was the escape hatch without damning their souls.
Many who have looked closely at this annulment thing even before Francis came along are convinced it is a farce – a cash cow – one of the things they do to bring in money. It use to be only the rich and the famous could afford an annulment so we didn’t hear much about it.
Now it is one of the pope’s reforms to open the doors of the church wider to compensate for its loses in recent years.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
You must be fair and just. If you do not have it in you where the Catholic Church is concerned, I do not expect any better from you.
All your comments are lies, lies, lies!
For one, you are not a Catholic and therefore are not an expert of Catholic procedures. Some of you fabricate stories and exaggerate.
The Church does not grant everyone an annulment. I have been personally told of someone, a man who applied for an annulment from his wife and he was refused. He applied for it; his wife did not. Why was he denied? Due to his lifestyle. Too many women, not living up to his marital vows and more. . .
In view of this, he was denied an annulment. I was told who the person is. I know the person.
In this case, he will be counseled. It would be left to him if he accepts counseling, to live a better life. Some do not want to. They may end up leaving the Church and also continuing their lifestyle.
The pope is working for the globalists e.g. population reduction as well as the disintegration of the family. The vatican is showing its true colors finally.
How did my writing get above? It is my response to anonymous 2.
Welcome to the world of the mainstream media which face shutdown if they don’t toe the line.